News – Military Critique
Middle East
A senior British army officer makes comments on the ability of the US army, accusing it of institutional racism, moral righteousness, misplaced optimism, and of being ill-suited to engage in counter-insurgency operations. Well, I don’t know about institutional racism, but I can believe the leaders have way too much moral religiousness and misplaced optimism(if they’re anything like Bush) and it’s obvious they’re not suited to counter-insurgency operations, but they haven’t been trained for it, so they’re doing well despite that all said. Mind you now, the officers critique is not all bad. Have a read to see what he thinks.
Hamas drops the destruction of Israel from its manifesto. A good initial step, but only one of many.
Israel pulls out of a deal with Pat Robinson’s Christian center after he said Ariel Sharon’s stroke was punishment by God for withdrawing from the Gaza strip.
A diplomat close to the IAEA says that, despite Iran taking the seals off their nuclear research sites, they’re a ways from starting enrichment.
John Kerry carefully backs the US-India deal to grant India access to civilian nuclear technology. Critics say the plan undermines global non-proliferation goals and should be tightened up.
Protests rise from India’s gay community at the arrest of two men for homosexuality and running an online gay club.
Former Syrian vice president Abdel-Halim Khaddam comes right out to accuse President Bashar al-Assad of ordering the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. When prompted if he thinks that Assad did it.
Europe
Despite Germany’s assertions it has had no hand in the Iraq war, there is evidence that German spies might have helped U.S. warplanes strike at least one target during 2003.
North America
New Orleans reveals its controversial rebuilding plan. Residents will have four months to prove they’re going to rebuild in the city before their area is marked off limits to redevelopment. The plan also calls for a city half the size of what it was before. And more, check the details at the link.
Looking at Alito’s cases of fighting for the little guy.
Bush seeks to spin the debate on Iraq around, making critics look like the bad guys. You know, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, while degrading troop morale and all that. I might agree with him if were to tighten up his accusations with some specifics, rather than ‘accidentally’ tarring every critic with his scattershot rhetoric.
The Teshekpuk Lake region in Alaska, a separate area smaller than ANWR, is opened up to oil drilling licenses.
General
The worlds six biggest polluters make a pledge to research cleaner fossil fuels. Again, rather than researching better alternatives.
Want to be trendy? Get your own pair of iPod Levis!
Be careful. That new car smell might actually be hazardous to your health.
The Blogs roll their eyes at Iran and George Galloway, while approving of Israel’s letting Jerusalem Palestinians vote.
Explainer takes a closer look at SWAT and how it works.
Today’s Papers has a study concluding that global warming is causing the spread of a fungus that knocks off frogs, the evolving relationship between congress and lobbyists, tension between nationalist guerrillas and the jihadists dominated by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Neurotically Yours: Hatta’s Rant
Woman stabs boyfriend with scissors because he wouldn’t stop playing Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love.” Police aren’t saying that was right, but they understand
Telling the police your name is “Harley Davidson” probably indicates your night will be going downhill from there
Lindsay Lohan “appalled” that people now know she is a drug-addicted bulimic skank
Police have a pretty good idea who vandalized an elementary school because one of the vandals was kind enough to leave a photocopy of his face for them
Head of Qantas frisked at airport because security guard didn’t believe a woman could be head of an airline
In Colombia, the excuse “I don’t have a condom, but I really love you baby” will no longer work
Scientists discover the plants really are our enemies and are slowly killing the planet with a blanket of suffocating greenhouse gases
Score one for academic freedom: “The Earth, My Butt and Other Round Things” returns to schoolshelves in Maryland
To ease prison overcrowding, Idaho wants to make inmates share a bed and sleep in shifts, AKA “hot racking.” What could possibly go wrong?
Today’s drivers can’t drive properly without high tech systems like ABS and DSC to save them
Woman charged with holding officers hostage so that she could get naked in front of them
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Muppet mayhem
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this big red cellular phone
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Evil Bert into action movies